Akhanda 2 & The Raja Saab Negative Reviews Drama: Why

January 10, 2026
Sreekanth bathalapalli
Entertainment
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Akhanda 2 & The Raja Saab Negative Reviews Drama: Why the Hate Wave? Who’s Pulling the Strings? – NRIGlobe Exclusive Scoop!

Dear NRI friends tuning in from across the globe, Tollywood’s 2025-2026 season has delivered blockbuster highs and shocking lows – but nothing beats the intense online storm surrounding Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 and Prabhas’ The Raja Saab! From last-minute postponements to mixed-to-negative reviews flooding social media, X (Twitter), Reddit, and review sites, fans worldwide are asking: Are these genuine opinions, or is there a hidden agenda of paid campaigns, fan rivalries, and industry sabotage?

As global audiences stream these films on OTT or catch them in theaters abroad, here’s the unfiltered truth behind the negativity wave, based on box office trends, producer statements, and fan reactions as of January 10, 2026.

Akhanda 2: The Sequel That Defied the Hate Despite the Odds!

Released on December 12, 2025 (after a week-long delay due to financial and legal hurdles), Akhanda 2: Thaandavam – the spiritual sequel to the 2021 hit – faced a barrage of criticism right from premiere shows. Critics and some online voices slammed it as “cringe,” “logic-less,” “verbose and chaotic,” with weak narration, over-the-top action, and loud BGM. Major outlets like Indian Express (2.5/5), Filmfare, GreatAndhra (2/5), and Rotten Tomatoes highlighted issues like predictable story, underwhelming writing, and opportunistic patriotic/religious elements.

Yet, the film powered through!

Worldwide gross estimates: 111-170 crore+ (even “mafia” trackers admit 130cr+).
Strong performance in mass centers, career highs for Balakrishna in Nizam, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Sustained footfalls for weeks, proving steady audience support despite early negativity.
Fans credit divine themes (Shiva devotion) and Balayya’s commanding screen presence for the connect.

NRI fans especially loved the mass elevation and action blocks, sharing how it resonated culturally abroad. But why the amplified hate? Balayya devotees point to targeted negativity from rival fanbases (Mega/PK camps), “woke” YouTubers, and alleged anti-Hindu bias claims. X posts reveal fans calling out “paid trolls” and “orchestrated reviews” that tried to kill the buzz – yet public word-of-mouth turned it into a “respectable” performer, defying predictions of a quick flop.

The Raja Saab: Producer SKN Exposes the Smear Campaign!

Prabhas’ Sankranti 2026 horror-comedy fantasy The Raja Saab (released January 9, 2026) opened strong with Rs 45 crore+ on day one, but mixed-to-negative reviews quickly dominated. Critics called it “ultra disaster,” “muddled screenplay,” “stretched writing,” “thin plot,” and “stale humor” – with weak horror elements despite comedy highs. Social media rants labeled it “pathetic,” “wasted time,” and worse than expected.

Creative producer Sreenivas Kumar Naidu (SKN) dropped the bombshell: An unnamed Tollywood producer allegedly pushed a “negative narrative” from the start of filming to sabotage hype! SKN praised Prabhas for ignoring the noise and delivering his best. Meanwhile, controversies swirled with claims of the makers offering money (e.g., ₹14,000) to delete critical reviews and post positive ones – adding fuel to the fire.

NRI audiences abroad (especially in the US, UK, and Gulf) are divided: Some enjoy Prabhas’ comic timing and visuals, while others feel the script fell short. Box office impact? Solid opening, but sustained negativity risks hurting the long run.

The Bigger Picture: Tollywood’s Review Wars & Why It Matters to NRIs

This isn’t isolated – it’s part of a toxic trend in Tollywood:

Fan rivalries fueling trolls and fake accounts.
Paid YouTube/review mafia amplifying negativity for clicks or rival gains.
Industry politics where competitors allegedly spread hate to protect their turf.
Genuine flaws (weak scripts, high expectations) get exaggerated into mountains.

For NRIs following from afar, this highlights how online noise can distort reality – but audience word-of-mouth often wins. Akhanda 2 proved mass appeal can overcome hate, while The Raja Saab shows star power endures despite campaigns.

Producers and associations have called for intervention to stop “orchestrated negativity” tarnishing reputations and hurting livelihoods. Fans demand: Fair critiques, not foul play!